Color motion-picture camera



April 20, 1948. A. w. TONDREAU COLOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed Oct. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALBERT W YZDNDREA AT TOR N EY.

April 20, 1948. w, TQNDREAU 2,439,996

COLOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed Oct. 27, 1944' s Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERT W JZDNDEEAU,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 20, 1948. A. w. TONDREAU 2,439,996

COLOR uo'mon PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed Oct. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ALBERT W YZ/VDQEAU,

INVENTOR.

ATTOR HEY April 1948. A. w. ToNDREAu 2,439,996

COLOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERA.

Original Filed Oct. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i ALBERT W jaNDREAU,

LV'V EN TOR.

BY I

ATTORNEY April 20, 1948. A. w. TONDREAU 39,996

COLOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Fild Oct. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Pun nnuu

ALBERT W YZDNDREAU,

INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 COLOR MOTION-PICTURE CAMERA Albert W. Tondreau, North Hollywood, Calif., as-

signor to Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 27, 1944, Serial No. 560,546. Divided and this application April 27, 1945, Serial No. 590,545 a 6 Claims. (CI. 88-16.

The present invention relates to a camera for color photography and in particular relates to an improvement in the camera disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,353,797, issued to me July 18, 1944.

One of the objects of the present invention is to facilitate threading the bi-pack and one of the films thereof through the two gates to initially position the films in the gates so that the pull-down mechanisms and the register pin mechanisms will engage the sprocket holes in the films, and in particular to so locate the film which is to have two color records thereon, that the alternate frames left unexposed at one gate will be exposed at the other gate.

In the above patent a freeloop of film was arranged between one of the feed sprockets and and the common sprocket, by reason of the fact that two films were fed into the camera each on a separate feed sprocket and one of the films on the trailing side of the feed sprocket was given a loop in order to overlap it with the other film to form a a bi-pack on the common sprocket. It has been found that the presence of this free loop is objectionable as the film slaps the side of the camera casing and is likely to be scratched. An object of the invention is to transfer two films from a side-by-si'de relation without using a free loop. This is accomplished by employing a spiral film guide which leads one ofthe films from its feed sprocket into bi-pack relation with the other film at the common sprocket.

Also in the above patent, a free double loop was proposed in the back film of the bi-pack at a point between the two films gates at the point where the bi-pack, after being exposed at one gate, was separated so that the back film thereof could be passed through the other gate, the front film being led directly to the common sprocket. The presence of this free loop is also objectionable for reasons similar to those pointed out above. Another object of the invention is to avoid the use of a free loop between the film gates, and this is accomplished by a film guide which separates the bi-pack after exposure at the bi-pack gate, the film guide serving to guide one of the films to the other gate for further exposure and to guide the other film to a common sprocket. The film guide also performs the function of providing a film path of fixed length between the two gates to thereby facilitate proper location in the gates of the film bearing the two color records.

The above patent also proposed to employ a 2 rather long free loop of the film which passes through both gates, at the leading side of the common sprocket. It has been found that a long loop at this point is objectionable and an object of the present invention is to avoid it. This is accomplished by providing a take-up sprocket at the exit side of the second gate with a maller loop between that sprocket and the second gate, and with a tight film path between that sprocket and the common sprocket.

As the above patent employed a single common sprocket on which both films were fed in bipack relation to the gates and also from the gates, it being desirable to store the exposed films in separate film cans, theabove patent proposed to transfer the bi-pack film from the exit side of the common sprocket to two take-up sprockets by separating one film laterally from the other by use of a free loop. This free loop is also objectionable for reasons pointed out above, and in object of the invention is to avoid its use. This has been accomplished according to the present invention by employing a double common sprocket having two sprockets side-by-side by using one of these sprockets to traverse the bipack to the gates, while obtaining a side-byside relation of the films on the take-up side of the common sprocket by leading the film from g the gates separately to each of these two sprockets, whereby a tight film path may be obtained from the double sprockets of the double common sprocket to the take-up sprockets without the use of a loop therebetween.

For further details of the invention, reference may be made to the drawings. wherein:

Figure l is a view in vertical elevation of the improved camera of the present invention, with the door of the camera removed and with certain parts of the camera wall broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the camera. of Fig. l with the vertical register pin in a different operating position and with 3 ing to the present invention to locating the film in the gates.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the device of Fig. 6 with parts in a difierent operating position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the film guide according to the present invention, for separating the bi-pack into separate films.

Fig.- 10 is a sectional view on line II0 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view on line II--II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, 4

Referring in detail to the drawings, as in the above patent, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 11, two unexposed negative films I and 2 are fed into the camera along parallel paths from a removable film can, the base of which is indicated at 3 in Fig, 1. The films I and 2 are led over aligned feed sprockets 4 and 5, respectively, then through the camera mechanism and after exposure are led out from the camera over two aligned feed sprockets 6 and 1 to take-up reels not shown.

As in the above patent, the films I and 2 are traversed across their respective gates two frames at a time, to expose film I which forms the back assist in properly film of the bi-pack with two color records, with a third color record on the other film 2.

Generally speaking, the improvements according to the present invention relate to the film traversing and threading means employed in the camera between the supply sprockets 4, and the take-up sprockets 6, 1.

The present invention discloses a number of features which are described and claimed in the above patent and the cases referred to therein, as well as the following patents issued in my name, Nos. 2,372,405; 2,364,490; 2,366,578.

The feed sprockets 4, 5 are provided with suitable guide rollers 8 and 9 and with suitable pad rollers I0 and II.

In order to lead the two films I and 2 from a position parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 1 1, to a bi-pack position with the emulsions facing each other, and without employing a free loop, the film I is led from its feed sprocket 4 over a stationary and adjustable spiral guide I2, The spiral guide I2 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comxlses a tube I3 having thereon a spiral flange I4, the distance between adjoining convolutions thereof being the same as the width of the film. Each side of the spiral flange I4 is provided with a shoulder as indicated at I5 and I6, with an intermediate cutaway portion I1, to support the film only at its edges. The tube I3 is rigidly se cured to an internal plug I8 along the axis of which is a supporting rod I9 clamped in position between the shoulder 20 and the screw 2|, to permit rotational adjustment ofthe tube I3 on the rod I9 so as to line up the spiral guide I2 so that certain adjoining convolutions of the spiral flange I4 will be in position to receive film I from the sprocket 4 while other adjoining convolutions will be in position to lead the film I underneath the film 2 onto the top of the back sprocket 22 of a double common sprocket 23 as shown in Fig. 5. In other words, the sleeve I3 is rotatably adjustable about its own axis by rotating sleeve I3 and plug I8 on the rod I9, and locking it in adjusted position by the screw 2 I. Also, the spiral guide I2 can have its axis angularly adjusted as rod I9 terminates in a ball 24 which comprises one member of a universal joint having a socket a 4 25 fixed to the plate 26 by a screw 21. A clamping plate 28 held in position by a screw 23 adjustably holds the ball 24 and, hence, spiral guide I2 in its adjusted position.

From the rear common sprocket 22, the films I and 2 are led in bi-pack relation, emulsion to emulsion, through guide rollers 30 and 3i (Fig. 1) then in a loop indicated at 32 through suitable gis ide rollers 33 and 34 through the bi-pack gate At the exit side of the bi-pack gate 35, the films I and 2 are separated, the film I which is the rear film of the bi-pack passing around an arcuate stationary film guide 36 and then passing through the single film gate 31, From the exit side of gate 31 the film I is led by suitable guide rollers 36 and 39 through a loop indicated at 40, which may be housed in casing extension 54 then through the take-up sprocket 4|, and without any further free loops is led through a number of guide rollers in- V dicated at 42, 43, 44 and 45 to the underside of the rear common sprocket 22. The film guide 36 includes means later described for separating'the films from their bi-pack relation and for also leading the front film 2 of the bi-pack to the front sprocket 46 (Figs. 1 and 5) of the common sprocket 23. Hence, the lower side of the sprocket 22 is individual to film I, the lower side of the sprocket 46 is individual to film 2, these films extending in parallel paths side-by-side on these sprockets, and from that point these films are led without further loops directly to their respective take-up sprockets 6 and 1 shown in Fig. 11. It will be noted that the film I enters the camera on the front supply sprocket 4 and leaves the camera on the rear take-up sprocket 1 while film 2 enters the camera on the rear supply sprocket 5 and leaves the camera on the front take-up sprocket 6.

All sprockets shown are provided with suitable pad rollers schematically indicated in the drawings and to which, generally, no reference numbers have been applied as their use is well understood and their construction and detail forms no part of the present invention.

As indicated in Fig. 2, and as described in the above patent the camera is provided. with a suitable objective lens 41, light dividing prism 48, shutter 49; also pull-down mechanism 50, and register pins 5i for the bi-pack gate 35; also pull-down mechanism 52 and register pins 53 for the single film gate 31.

The power drive 4 driving the various sprockets, pull-down mechanisms and register pins illustrated and described herein, may be the same as that described in the above patent with the addition thereto of a suitable gear for driving the take-up sprocket 4 I.

The film guide 36, as shown in Figs. 1,2, 9 and 10, comprises a base 55 secured to the vertical wall of the camera by a screw 56. From the base 55 extends a stationary arcuate flange 51 the middle portion of which is depressed, as indicated at 58, to support the filmat its edges- The flange 51 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, extends generally in a circular film path for more than a one-half circle, with the upper end 59 of the flange in line with a guide roller 60 and with the exit 61 from the film gate 35. The other end 62 of the fiange 51 is in line with the entrance 63 to the single film gate 31. The stationary flange 51 therefore serves to guide the film I in an arcuate path, without a free loop, from gate 35 to gate 31. Suitably secured to the front edge of approximately the right hand one-half of the of the tilted portion 66 extends an arm '51 which overlies the leading end 68 of which is made in the film 2,

The leading edge 68 is therefore led across the front of a more rearward portion of the same film, and across the front of the other film I, as Well as across the leading portion of the fiange 51. Due to the spiral loop 69 in the film 2, there the spiral loop 69 is some rearward tension in the leading edge 68 which tends to spring rearwardly and the rear edge of the leading portion 58 of the loop is guided and restrained by the front face of the guide plate 64. The arm 61 may be suitably secured to the front of the plate extension 64 by welding or otherwise, and the whole film guide indicated at 36 forms a double film guide unit which may be chrome plated.

In order to position the films l and 2 in the bi-pack gate 35 so that the sprocket holes therein are in position to be engaged by the film traversing means 50, 5|, and also to position film I in both gates 35 and 31 for a like reason, and also to insure that gate 31 will expose alternate film frames not exposed at the other gate 35, the invention provides at the entrance side of the gate 35 and at the exit side of the gate 31, the manually operable film engaging devices "I0 and II respectively, both of which are alike, the latter being shown in detail in Figs. 6, '7 and 8.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the film engaging device II comprises a pair of slidable pins 12 and 73 adapted to be moved to engage the film sprocket holes indicated at I4 and 15 in Fig, 8. Pins I2 and 13 are slidably mounted in a bracket 76 which may be secured to the wall of the camera by screws such as 85. Mounted in the bracket I6 is an axle 11 on which is rotatably mounted an eccentric 18 against which the pins I2 and 13 are urged by springs 19 and 80 respectively. The pins I2 and 13 enter the film at right angles as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 and asthe film pull-down mechanisms 50 and 52 do not afford enough room to locate the eccentric 18 in a right line through the film at the point Where the pins 12 and I3 enter the film, the eccentric I8 is positioned off to one side and the pins 72 and 13 are curved, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7, and as indicated at 8| in Fig. 7. Fig. 6 shows eccentrio 18 moved to a position where the pins 12 and 13 are retracted from the film while Fig. 7 shows the eccentric I8 moved to another position to force the pins I2 and I3 into sprocket holes against the action of their springs"!!! and 80.

The film locating device 10 is positioned in advance of the entrance end of gate 35 and the film locating device II is located beyond the exit end of gate 31, both of the" devices 16 and II being positioned where their pins such as I2 and I3 and in particular' the adjacent part of the film is readily accessible so that the sprocket holes of the film can be readily fitted on these pins. A fixed and desired length of the film 2 is measured between the device I0 and II partly by reason of the fact that the flange 62 forms a film path of fixed length between the two gates 35 and 31. In threading, the eccentric 82 (Fig. 2) of the device 10 is operated to insert its pins. similar to I2 and 13 in Fig. 8 and or which the front pin 83 appears in Fig. 2, into the sprocket holes 01 the bipack I, 2. Then both films are threaded through the gate 35 and the double film guide 36, with the back film I of the iii-pack firmly engaging the flange 62 and film I is course threaded through the gate 31 and if pulled firmly, the pins '12, I3 of the device II will engage the sprocket holes in the film I. As before stated, the device I0 is so positioned in the film path that the bi--pack I, 2, when engaged by the pins such as 83, is in proper position in the gate 35 to be engaged by the pulldown 50 and the register pins 5|, it being assumed of course that both the claw of the pulldown 50 and the register pins 56 are out of the film path at this time. The register pins 5| are then manually engaged in the sprocket holes by operating the register pin control handle 84 as described in the above patent. The device II is so positioned with reference to the device 10 and with reference to the length of the film path afforded by the flange that when the film I is impaled on the pins such as 83 of the device 16 and pulled firmly in its -path through gate 35 around flange 62 and through gate 37, the sprocket holes of film I will be in position to be engage by the pins I2, 13 of the device II, and when so engaged, the film I is in position in gate 31 to. be engaged by theolaw of the pull-down device 52 and by the register pins 53, and the film I is furthermore positioned in gate 3'! so that alternate frames not exposed at gate 35 will be exposed at gate 31, the two pull-downs 50 and 52 operating in synchronism to advance the film two frames at a time as described in the above patent. After .the two films I and 2 have been properly located in the gates 35 and 31, and the register pins SI and 53 released to engage the sprocket holes in the films, the eccentrics l8 and 62 are operated to retract pins such as 12 and I3 of the device II and the pins like 83 of the device 10. Whereupon the camera is ready for operation, it being assumed that the remainder of the threading has been completed in an obvious manner.

This application is a 560,546, filed October 27, for Camera.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit division of Serial No. 1944, now abandoned,

, of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A camera having two film gates at right angles to each other, pull-down mechanism for each of said gates for advancing the film two frames at a time, a double sprocket having front and rear sprockets, said rear sprocket comprising means for feeding two films in bi-pack relation to one of said gates, means at the exit side of said bi-pack gate for guiding the front film of said bi-pack to said front sprocket, means between said gates for guiding the rear film of said bi-pack through the other of said gates, and means at the exit side of said last mentioned gate for guiding the film therefrom to said rear sprocket.

2. A multi-color picture camera comprising a bi-pack film picture gate and a single film picture gate in front of said bi-pack gate, a light divider for said gates, means for feeding two picture films in bi-pack relation to said bi-pack gate, means between said gates for guiding the rear film of said bi-pack forwardly of said by-pack gate to said single film gate, means at the exit side of said bi-pack gate for separating the front 7 film from the rear film of said bi-pack and for leading the same rearwardly of said bi-pack gate, said separating means comprising means for holding said front film in a single spiral loop with the leading edge thereof passing at one side of both of said films.

3. A camera comprising a bi-pack film gate and a single film gate, a double sprocket having front and rear sprockets, said rear sprocket comprising means for feeding two films in bi-pack relation to said bi-pack gate, a pull-down mechanism for traversing the bi-pack film through said bi-pack gate two frames at a time, a pull-down mechanism for traversing the rear film'of said bi-pack through said single film gate two frames at a time, loop forming means for the front film between the exit side of said bi-pack gate and said front sprocket, means comprising a take-up sprocket adjacent the exit side of said single film gate for forming a loop in the film from the single gate, and guide rollers for leadingthe film from said take-up sprocket to said rear sprocket without a free loop in the film.

4. A camera comprising two film supply sprockets for feeding two films, a third sprocket having a portion on one side thereof common to both films in bi-pack relation from both of said supply sprockets, exposure means for the films, two takeup sprockets, said third sprocket having a porvtion on the other side thereof for feeding one of the films after exposure to one of said take-up sprockets, and a fourth sprocket for feeding the other film after exposure to the other take-up sprocket.

5. A camera having a bi-pack gate for front and rear films in rear film at the front of said first gate and-film guiding means individual to each film at the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,604,485 Sallns Oct. 26, 1926 1,885,229 Burkhardt Nov. 1, 1932 1,893,698 C'respinel Jan. 10, 1933 2,072,091 Ball et al, Mar. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 373,186 Great Britain May 12, 1932 bi-pack relation, a gate 

